Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement in parliament last week when he said:

I think the workers of this country do not want talk; they want action.

After three months and 5,000 job losses, when will Qantas employees and passengers finally see some action from this government?

Government members interjecting—

The SPEAKER: We will have silence on my right.

Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Prime Minister) (14:37): We wish to free the workers of Qantas from a $100 billion hit on their jobs. We want to do it today.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER: Those on my left will desist.

Mr ABBOTT: We want to do it today, and I say to the Leader of the Opposition: he should stop huffing and puffing. Just for once he should be useful. Just for once he should leave the union card at home and he should get out of the way, let the carbon tax repeal legislation go through the Senate and take this $100 million tax off Qantas workers.